Combination lamp and television antenna



Jan. 22, 1952 "r. A. STIFFEL COMBINATION LAMP AND TELEVISION ANTENNA Filed Sept. 7, 1949 INVENTOR. 771391112611? a. Stiffel Jan. 22 1952 T. A. STIFFEL 83,

COMBINATION LAMP AND TELEVISION ANTENNA I Filed Sept. 7, 1949 2 snm'rs slmm 2 IN V EN TOR.

Thggphlle a. suffel wmm Patented Jan. 22, 1952 OFFICE COMBINATION LAMP AND TELEVISION ANTENNA Y Y Theophile A. suite], cmca m. Application September 7, 1949, Serial No. 1l4,3ll'l 2 Claims. (01. 2504i)" .1

-- This invention relates to a combination lamp and television antenna.

Television antennae of the indoor-type, as presently constructed and in general use, are intended to be positioned on top of the cabinet of a television receiving apparatus. As is well known, the particular forms of television antennae, currently in use, do not blend in with many decorative schemes and consequently they tend to detract from the decorations in the room in which the television receiving apparatus may be located. Such indoor-type television antennae usually include a weighted base member on which are pivotably supported a pair of extensible telescoping rod-like members. The use of such antennae prevent the use of decorative lamps or other objects on the top of the cabinet housing the television apparatus.

Additionally, it is generally recognized that the viewing of a television screen in a completely darkened room is detrimental to the eyes of the viewers and that a subdued light in the room in which the television receiving apparatus is located is materially beneficial. Further, a great number of the television receiving sets currently in use-are not equipped with illuminated control panels, therefore rendering it diiiicult to see the controldials for tuning the apparatus.

Accordingly, it is an object of my invention to incorporate in the structure of a decorative lamp, either of the floor or table type, a television antenna which may be completely disguised from view, or caused to be blended into the general lamp structure so as to not readily be perceptible.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a combined lamp and television antenna which is pleasing in appearance, thereby enhancing the attractiveness of the room decorations when placed on top of a television receiving cabinet.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a combined lamp and television antenna in which the lamp provides beneficial illumination for viewing the television screen and for manipulating the control dials for tuning of the apparatus. i

Other and further objects of my invention will be apparent from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. l is a side elevational view of a table lamp showing a television antenna applied thereto, the shade being shown in cross section.

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view taken substantially on line 2-201 Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary elevational view looking in the direction of the arrows 3-3 of Fig. 1.

shown in cross section. 3

. z Fig. 4 1s an elevational view ot' a modified embodiment of my invention, the lamp shade being Fig. 5 is a cross sectional vie f taken substantially on line 55 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is an elevational view of another modified embodiment, the shade being shown in cross section. I

Fig. 7 is a cross sectional view taken substantially on line 1-7 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8-is a fragmentary elevational view looking in the direction of the arrows '8-8 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 9 is an exploded view, in perspective, showing certain details of construction.

Referring particularly to the 'embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1-3 inclusive,s t he numeral l5 indicates, generally, a lamp standard and base which may be of any desired configuration. Supported on the standard I5 is a plate member l6 of insulating material, preferably transparent or translucent, the said plate member having a central aperture 16a through which" the inner tubular member l5a of the lamp standard l5 projects. As illustrated in Fig. 9, the upper end of the said member l5a is threaded to receive a nut I I which serves to secure the plate member IS on a shoulder lEb provided on the standard, and also to receive the threaded end of a conventional electric light socket I8 which carries an electric light bulb l9. Suitably supported on the plate member l6 are spaced rod-like elements 2!, each having at their ends, a downwardly inclined portion 22 terminating in an upturned portion 23 providing a retaining hook-like end to support a conventional lamp shade 24.

Supported on plate member it are antenna rods 26 which extend substantially parallel to the shade supporting elements 2|. As will be clearly seen in Fig. 2, the antennae rods 26 are substantially coaxially arranged with the inner ends of the rods in spaced relation. Each of the rods 26 has a conducting wire such as 21 connected thereto.

As will be apparent by reference to Fig.1, the lower edge of the'lamp shade 24 is disposed in a plane below the plane of the plate member l6. Thus, the plate member l6 and the associated antennarods 26iare confined within the limits of the shade 24 and are efiectively hidden from view, the appearance of the lamp being that of any conventional lamp.

While the conducting wires 2'! are shown as connected to the outer ends 01' the antenna rods 28, it will be apparent that the wires may be connected to the inner ends which are proximate to each other, and that the wires may be suitably su nn ,sec ndt conducted through the hollow standard [5 and emerge through the bottom of the base, so as to be substantially completely hidden from view.

Similarly, as in the conventional practice of tuning a television receiver by rotating the indoor television antennae about a vertical axis, the

lamp may be moved about its vertical axis so as to properly position the antenna elements 26 in order to obtain the most effective reception.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5, a plate member 21 is suitably mounted on a lamp standard and base, indicated generally, bythe numeral 28. The plate member '21which'is et insulating material is secured to the standard 28 by a nut 29 in threaded engagement with the upper end of the inner tubnlar member of the lamp standard 28. The means of attachment of the plate member 21 to the standard =28-may be identical with that hereinabove described and illustrated in Fig. 9-.- A harp 30 is mounted on the .endof the inner tubular member SI and is secured thereto as by nut, 32. A socket 33 and light bulb 34. are supported on the inner tubular member 31 in the conventional manner. The harp 39 is provided at the, top thereof with a shouldered stud,3,6 adapted. to support a con.- ventional lamp shade 31, the said shade being secured on the harp 3.0 by a threaded ornamental cap 38. i v

Suitably secured to the platemember 31 is a pair of antenna elements 39. The said elements are preferably formed of telescoping sections so as to render the elements extensible and retractable and may be spacednon the plate member 21, preferably near the ends or the said plate memher. 'The antenna elements 39 are intended to be extended, if necessary, .when the television receiving apparatus is. in -use,-the said elements i ch a case proiect ngabe t e u e le of the shade 3].

As will be clearly apparent by reference to Fig. 4, the plate member ,2! is disposed in a plane above-the lower edge oi lamp shade 31, while the upper ends of the antenna elements 39, when in u y t a d position. are dis osed be w t e top Edge 1 lam sha e: Thu when th anpar tusis not n us tnean nna e emen 39 are. hidde m ew and the appearanc 9f h a p is as any c n ent ona tabl lai -P.- 99nducting wires 40. are connected to the antenna 3;

elements 39.

. I the e d e shown in Fi s 6 hrou 8.. a t an pa ent or ns uce t in u tin l t member 4! is suitably mounted on a standard and ba 2 i a-ma ,s.. m a to that ill trated in 9 The said plate member 4| carries a pair of spaced rod elements 43 constructed n f e si i a to th rods 2 ill trated lower edge of the lamp shade 44, while the upper [iii in s 1 n -t e rod e m nts 4 bein ada t.-

d t support alamp shade 44, in th pg per n bove described. A conventional seek t 4 4 and light bulb 46 are mounted on standarg and base 42,-

- lat membe 4!. n zn itt o he en e ort th ein. are t o pa r iii-Jugs ac pa o said lu ein a a ted t ni et lysnp pn iberebsi een a teleis pn anten a elemen 48.- "EM s id. ant nna -e ement$- me at: the ids-i noring t p so a ends of the antenna elements 48, when in fully retracted position are disposed below the top edge of the lamp shade. Thus, when the television receiving apparatus is out of use, the antenna elements 48 may be retracted,-as shown in Fig. 6, so as to be completely hidden from view within the shade 44.

While my invention has been described as applied to 'a-table lamp, it is to be understood that the invention may be applied to a floor lamp and that various changes in the shape, size, and arrangement of parts may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A device for positioning on the cabinet of a television receiver comprising a movable lamp having a standard and a lamp shade, a plate member carried on said standard, a plurality of lamp shade supporting elements carried on said plate member, said elements having end lamp shade engaging portions disposed below the plane of said plate member, and television antennae elements supported on said plate mfimber and lying substantially in the plane thereof within the confines of said shade so as to be substantially hidden from view, said lamp providing beneficial illumination for viewing the television screen and being movable about a vertical axis for tuningof said antennae elements.

2. A device for positioning on the cabinet of a television receiver comprising a movable lamp having a standard and a lamp shade, a plate member carried on said standard, a plurality of lam shade supporting elements carried on said plate member, said elements having end lamp shade engaging portions disposed below the plane .of said plate member, a pair of television antennae elements supported on said plate member in substantially upright position within the confines of said shade, said lamp providing beneficial illumination for viewing the television screen and being movable about a vertical axis for tuning of said antennae elements.

THEOPHILE A. STEEFEL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED ST E PATENTS Number Name Date D. 152,990 Leonard Mar. ,8, 1949 

